The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has emphasized the need to strengthen Nigeria’s disaster management architecture to address emerging risks and evolving operational realities across the country.
Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Inception Workshop on the Review of the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) and the National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP), Mrs. Umar said the changing nature of risks in Nigeria makes it imperative to review existing disaster management guidelines and protocols to ensure they remain effective and responsive.
She noted that emerging threats, lessons learned from recent emergencies and evolving operational challenges have underscored the need for a comprehensive review of the nation’s disaster management frameworks.
The NEMA Director-General charged participants at the workshop to critically examine the existing documents with a view to developing frameworks that are better aligned with current realities and international best practices.
According to her, the review presents an important opportunity to strengthen early warning and early action systems, address identified gaps in response structures, integrate emerging risks such as climate change and insecurity, and ensure that vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, women, children and the elderly, are adequately considered in disaster planning and response efforts.
Mrs. Umar expressed appreciation to the World Bank Group for its continued partnership and technical support to NEMA. She also commended the Advocacy for Women with Disability Initiative (AWWDI) for supporting the workshop and promoting inclusive disaster management practices in Nigeria.
She further acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders across the disaster management ecosystem, stressing that collaborative efforts remain critical to building a more resilient and responsive disaster management system capable of safeguarding lives and livelihoods nationwide.
